I stumbled onto this excellent column [1] by Damian Thompson about the modern proliferation of pseudo-information. That is, the way various formerly obscure conspiracy cults (UFO’s, moon landing hoaxers, second-shooters, 9/11 Truthers, Flat Earthers, Young Earthers, Inflating Earthers, etc) manage to disseminate their beliefs convincingly to wide and gullible audiences.
Before Gutenberg, only reliable, church-approved texts could be widely read in western culture. Then a new technology came along, and suddenly heretics like Martin Luther or Galileo could publish widely before the church could disappear them and their ideas. It took a few generations to settle down to the publishing and editorial ethic that made it clear which information was reliable and accepted, and which was fringe. It helped that there was still some economic hurdle to wide publication, and publishers needed to maintain their reputations. This lasted until almost the end of the 20th century.
Now, we have the web. Any misinformed but layout-talented individual can produce publications (pages) that look as wise, vetted, and reliable as Britannica. But without the necessity of prissy little details like fact checking or actual expertise in the subjects being purveyed. Must it be another couple of generations before the average browser can tell fact from fancy?
Damien Thompson has written the book Counterknowledge: How We Surrendered to Conspiracy Theories, Quack Medicine, Bogus Science and Fake History [2] and started the website (CounterKnowledge.com [3]) that strives to find sources of fiction portrayed as fact and pull back the curtain. Or at least to tilt at those windmills.As is discussed elsewhere on this forum, the root problem is the lack of solid education. F’rinstance, every argument from the 9/11 Truthers shows innumeracy and/or historical illiteracy. Many are obviously fraudulent, too. But polls show that a surprising percentage of Americans think they might have a point. Almost as many as those who doubt the basis of modern biology: Evolution. Look those numbers up for yourself; then you’ll trust them. But always consider the source.
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